Alfredo Madariaga-Navarrete

Coffee quality results from the interplay between genotype, environment, and cultivation practices, but whether the effect of agricultural management depends on altitude remains poorly understood. We hypothesized that the response of roasted coffee chemistry and cup quality to management would differ among altitudinal zones. Composite samples representative of sustainable and conventional management in three altitudinal zones (low, 1100 m.a.s.l.) were obtained from eighteen commercial Coffea arabica L. farms in Veracruz, Mexico (management monitored in 2023–2024 and 2024–2025; cherries sampled in the 2024–2025 harvest), and their physicochemical properties, phenolic compounds, caffeine, in vitro antioxidant capacity, and Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) cup quality were evaluated. Altitude was the main source of variation in pH, total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and total cup score. In contrast, management mainly affected chlorogenic acids (CGA), caffeine, and hydrolyzable tannins, which were higher under sustainable management (CGA: 22.52 vs. 16.82 mg g⁻¹). The management × altitude interaction was significant (p ≤ 0.017) for all phenolic compounds, caffeine, and antioxidant assays, with the largest differences between systems in the mid zone, where sustainable samples showed the highest CGA (30.27 mg g⁻¹) and FRAP values (675.30 µmol Trolox equivalents g⁻¹). All samples reached specialty grade (82.08–84.75 points); total cup score increased with altitude and did not differ between management systems. These results indicate that management effects on coffee chemistry depend on altitude.

Epizootic rabbit enteropathy (ERE) is a gastrointestinal disorder affecting rabbits during the post-weaning period. This study aimed to describe cultivable bacterial isolates recovered from the cecal contents of 31 rabbits in Hidalgo, Mexico, with clinical signs compatible with ERE. We examined cultured isolates using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). We determined minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of selected antimicrobials for a subset of isolates. We recovered a total of 126 bacterial isolates. The most frequently identified isolates were Escherichia coli (80.16%), Enterococcus faecalis (5.56%), and Morganella morganii (4.76%); these percentages reflect the proportion of recovered cultured isolates, not the proportion of affected rabbits. Incomplete identification records and scores below the species-level threshold limited confirmation of some taxonomic assignments. MICs varied among the tested isolates and were interpreted descriptively; differences in MIC values between antimicrobials were not considered evidence of comparative clinical efficacy. These culture-dependent findings describe the sampled isolate collection and do not represent the composition or diversity of the complete cecal microbiota. Without comparison groups, they do not establish bacterial enrichment, disease specificity, or an association with ERE, but they suggest an initial approach to identify potential causative agents of the disease.

Phytopathogenic bacteria are responsible for many crop diseases, and their control is largely based on chemical products that can generate resistance and tolerance. Plant extracts represent an alternative and a potential source of compounds with antibacterial activity. In this study, the antibacterial activity of hydroalcoholic extracts of Ricinus communis L. leaves and Tagetes erecta L. flowers was determined against the phytopathogenic Gram-positive bacterium (GPB) Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis and the Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato and Xanthomonas campestris. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values are reported. The extracts were obtained by maceration, and their phytochemical constituents were determined through chemical screening, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Both extracts showed bactericidal activity against the three bacteria. While P. syringae and X. campestris were more sensitive to the extract of R. communis leaves, C. michiganensis was more sensitive to the extract of T. erecta flowers. The most sensitive bacterium was X. campestris, showing the lowest MIC and MBC values for the extract of R. communis leaves (0.195 and 0.39 mg mL-1, respectively). The bactericidal activity of R. communis leaves against the GNB could be associated with their higher TPC and TFC values compared with those of T. erecta flowers. However, a lower MBC was obtained with the T. erecta flower extract against C. michiganensis. This shows the importance of the chemical structure of secondary metabolites, which is related to their mode of action. In addition, the extract of T. erecta flowers showed a narrower MBC range (25–100 mg mL-1) against the three bacteria than the extract of R. communis leaves (0.39–200 mg mL-1). Therefore, the hydroalcoholic extract of T. erecta flowers could be a valuable source of secondary metabolites for controlling these phytopathogenic bacteria.

The cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is eaten raw or lightly processed, which makes it a potential vehicle for foodborne bacteria; the spread of resistant strains has renewed interest in plant-derived control agents. This work characterized the phytochemical profile of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil (REO) and assessed its antioxidant capacity and its antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus isolated from cucumber fruits. REO was obtained by steam distillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus (yield 1.3%). Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified 21 compounds, among which α-pinene (32.53%), 1,8-cineole (20.73%), and verbenone (6.80%) predominated. Antioxidant activity was 49.60 ± 0.69 µM TE/mL REO for the 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical and 13.15 ± 0.51 µM TE/mL REO for the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, with IC₅₀ values of 24.46 ± 2.11 and 56.43 ± 1.86 mg/mL, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranged from 0.19 to 3.12 mg/mL and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) from 0.39 to 6.25 mg/mL. These results highlight REO’s in vitro bactericidal potential and support its evaluation as a component of disinfectant formulations or edible coatings for cucumber.

The genus Kalanchoe (Crassulaceae) comprises approximately 125 species of succulents distributed across Madagascar, Africa, Arabia, Australia, Southeast Asia, and tropical America. Traditionally regarded as “miracle plants”, Kalanchoe species are employed for treating inflammatory, infectious, metabolic, and cardiovascular conditions; this is associated with their abundant content of polyphenols, including phenolic acids and flavonoids such as quercetin, kaempferol, luteolin, rutin, and patuletin. However, robust clinical evidence remains limited. This review integrates pharmacological and bioinformatic perspectives by analyzing more than 70 studies published since 2000 on 15 species, including Bryophyllum. As an in silico complement, the genome of Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi was used to predict genes (AUGUSTUS), perform homology searches against Arabidopsis thaliana, and model three key enzymes: CHS, CYP90, and VEP1. The AlphaFold2/ColabFold models showed conserved catalytic motifs, and molecular docking with representative ligands supported the plausibility of biosynthetic pathways for flavonoids, brassinosteroids, and bufadienolides. The available evidence highlights chemopreventive, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities, primarily associated with flavonoids and bufadienolides. Significant gaps remain, such as the lack of gene–metabolite correlations and the absence of standardized clinical trials. Overall, Kalanchoe represents a promising model that requires multi-omics approaches to enhance its phytopharmaceutical potential.

Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt. is an important aromatic plant widely used in traditional Mexican medicine for its therapeutic potential. Its medicinal activity is attributed to a wide range of bioactive compounds, including flavonoids. However, overexploitation, habitat loss, climate change and plant diseases threaten its natural populations and diversity. Although the species reproduces both sexually and asexually, conventional propagation methods are often slow, limited by environmental factors, and susceptible to pests and pathogens. Therefore, this research aimed to establish a micropropagation protocol for A. ludoviciana and to evaluate the changes in its phenolic composition and antioxidant activity while adapting to ex vitro conditions. Full-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) media supplemented with 0.1 mg L⁻¹ 6-benzylaminopurine resulted in the highest number of shoots (3.30 ± 0.34) and shoot length (3.00 ± 0.12 cm). Moreover, 1/2 MS media supplemented with 0.5 mg L⁻¹ indole-3-acetic acid improved the number (14.45 ± 0.56) and quality of roots. Hardening and acclimatization of plantlets showed 100% survival after 10 weeks. Also, the phenolic composition and antioxidant activity of A. ludoviciana changed in response to stress derived from growth conditions. The results support the sustainable use and rapid propagation of the species, as well as provide the basis for the study of secondary metabolism in the plant.

Low temperature is one of the major environmental challenges for most crops, especially those of tropical and semitropical origin. The present work aimed to study low-temperature tolerance in tomato plants when these were previously inoculated with a Trichoderma asperellum strain. Here, it was demonstrated that tomato plants inoculated with the bioinoculant exhibited an alleviation of the injuries caused by low temperatures, with a 2.2-fold increase in plant survival. The increase in chilling tolerance was accompanied by a strong reduction in oxidative stress, but also by enhancements in proline and soluble sugar accumulation of at least 1.7-fold. Additionally, leaf stoma features were also measured, and it was found that both the bioinoculant and low temperatures increased leaf stomatal densities by 32% and 29%, respectively, and raised the stomatal index, while reducing stomatal area by 25–30%, suggesting that leaf traits may also contribute to alleviating the damage caused by low temperatures in tomato plants. The results of the present study demonstrate that T. asperellum provokes physiological and biochemical changes in tomato plants that together enhance tolerance to low temperature, leading us to propose the use of T. asperellum as an agroecological strategy to combat crop damage under low temperatures.

Low temperature is one of the major environmental challenges for most crops, especially from tropical and semitropical origin. The present work aimed to study low temperatures tolerance in tomato plants when previously these were inoculated with Trichoderma asperellum. Here, it was demonstrated that tomato plants inoculated with fungal isolate exhibited an alleviation of the injuries caused by low temperatures. The increasement of chilling tolerance was accompanied by a strong reduction in oxidative stress, but also by an enhancement of proline and soluble sugar accumulation. Additionally, leaf stomata features were also measured, and found that both bioinoculant and low temperatures increased leaf stomatal densities indexes but decreased the stomatal area, suggesting leaf traits may also contribute to alleviating the damage caused by the low temperatures in tomato plants. The results of the present study demonstrate that T. asperellum provokes physiological and biochemical changes in tomato plants that together enhance tolerance to low temperature, proposing the use of T. asperellum as an agroecological strategy confronting crop damage to low temperatures.

Argemone mexicana L. is considered a weed; however, it contains secondary metabolites that can control phytopathogenic fungi in vitro, with the potential to adapt its effectiveness in the field. In the present study, leaf extracts of A. mexicana (hexane and methanol) were prepared, and their chemical profiles were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The in vitro antifungal activity of each extract was evaluated at different concentrations (500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 mg L⁻¹) against phytopathogens such as Monilinia fructicola, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Fusarium oxysporum, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Based on their chemical profiles, 14 compounds were identified in the hexanic extract, and 11 compounds were identified in the methanolic extract. These compounds included those with antifungal activity, such as Benzene; 1.3-bis(1.1-dimethylethyl)-; pentanoic acid; 5-hydroxy-, 2,4-di-1-butylphenyl esters; 1,2,4-Triazol-4-amine; and N-(2-thienylmethyl). The hexanic extract demonstrated fungistatic activity on the four fungi tested, while the methanolic extract exhibited fungicidal activity against C. gloeosporioides and F. oxysporum. The results of the Probit analysis showed variations in the sensitivity of phytopathogenic fungi to the treatments evaluated. In M. fructicola, the hexane extract presented an EC₅₀ of 317,146 mg L⁻¹ and an EC₉₀ of 400,796 mg L⁻¹. For C. gloeosporioides, the EC₅₀ was 2676 mg L⁻¹ and the EC₉₀ was 888,177 mg L⁻¹, while in F. oxysporum an EC₅₀ of 34,274 mg L⁻¹ and an EC₉₀ of 1528 mg L⁻¹ were estimated. In the case of S. sclerotiorum, an EC₅₀ of 560 mg L⁻¹ and an EC₉₀ of 7776 mg L⁻¹ were obtained. Finally, for the commercial fungicide Captan^®, an EC₅₀ of 1.19 mg L⁻¹ and an EC₉₀ of 1.67 mg L⁻¹. These results suggest that extracts from A. mexicana could provide a natural alternative for the control of phytopathogenic fungi.

Actualmente, se buscan alternativas seguras y efectivas para el control plagas y microorganismos fitopatógenos en los cultivos, por lo que ha surgido un vasto campo de investigación centrado en el estudio de extractos vegetales, así como los metabolitos secundarios presentes en estos. El uso de extractos vegetales representa una tecnología de bajo costo y es compatible con el medio ambiente y la salud humana. Este documento recopila algunos estudios realizados en México que proporcionan evidencia sobre la efectividad biológica de extractos vegetales obtenidos de plantas comunes para el control de microorganismos fitopatógenos, plagas y arvenses.